Danniel j



(No Model.) 7

D. J. FRY. OVERSEOE.

No. 588,919. Patented Aug. 24,1897.

Nitnsses. Ingentor.

@QMMQM v Attorney.

UNITED v v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANNIEL J. FRY, OF-dVIOREHEAD, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. W. VINTON, OF SAME PLACE.

OVERSHOE'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,919, dated August 24, 1897.

' Application filed May 27,1896. Serial No- 593,344. on model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANNIEL J. FRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Morehead, in the county of Rowan and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overshoes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of aperspectiveview showing the application of invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of rubber shoe, partly in section, showing invention as applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of spring.

This invention is designed to provide certain new and useful improvements in rubber overshoes; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all substantially as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claim.

The precise nature of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the letter A designates one of myimproved overshoes, which is in general of the usual construction.

B designates a heel-spreading spring and clasp, which consists of a thin plate bent into of the opening of the shoe is not stiffened,

but is left free to move or stretch with the foot.

The spring serves to hold the heel up in place, whereby it is prevented from turning down or under and enables the shoe to be slipped upon the foot without the aid of the hands. When the overshoe is on, it forms a clasp which embraces the heel portion of the inner shoe and prevents the overshoe from pulling off the foot when caught in the mud or elsewhere.

Many attempts have heretofore been made to provide a self-actin g overshoe or one which could be slipped on the foot without the aid of the hands. The difficulty has been, however, that if the counter portion of the overshoe was made sufficiently stiff to hold the shoe open for the reception of the foot it was not sufiiciently elastic to properly clasp and retain itself in place. To overcome this difficulty, metallic stiffening devices have been placed at the inside of the counter, also upon the outside and at the upper edge portion thereof. Such devices are not, however, satisfactory, for the reason that if placed inside they form an obstruction to the insertion of the heel, while if placed outside or at the upper edge portion of the counter they are more or less unsightly and also fail to properly distend the shoe and to clasp it to the inner shoe. The present device avoids both of these objections. Being placed between the counter and its lining it is entirely hidden from View. Its outwardly-curved end portions not onlyserve to press against and distend the lateral portions of the counter, whereby the heel of the inner shoe can be easily inserted and the self-action of the overshoe greatly facilitated, but they also form clasps to retain the overshoe in place.

I would also remark that inasmuch as the device is placed in position during the manufacture of the overshoe it is retained in place by the lining, so that not only are special fastening devices not required, but it is impossible for the device to work loose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with the counter portion of a rubber overshoe, and its lining, of a U- shaped spring-plate interposed between the said counter portion and lining entirely below the upper edges thereof having its for- Ward end portions outwardly curved beyond In testimony whereof I aflix my signature the planes of its side portions, as shown, to in presence of two witnesses. spread the adjacent portions of the overshoe laterally and whereby the automatic or self action of said shoe is facilitated and its re- Vitnesses:

tention upon the inner shoe is insured sub- T. H. BROWN,

stantially as specified. J. T. TOLIVER. 

